New Convict Tang From Petco

Kerbash · Nov 2, 2022

Hey,

I got a really nice deal on a 2 inch convict tang from petco, but he is not in perfect condition, there seems to be 4 separate symptom not sure are they related.

1. Sunken stomach and cheeks, you could see the cheek bones, I think it might have been pitched stomach, but he has gotten a lot better since I left nori on a clip 24 / 7 hes been nipping at it none stop too.

2. White fluff on the tail looks really similar to tail fungus

3. Strange brown / grey patches on the stomach and cheeks (Ill attach some photos)

4. He seems to "scratch" himself? He keeps hovering above rocks and glass then dash forward rubbing himself against the stuff.

Hes in a QT tang by himself at the moment, I really dont want to use copper because I have had really bad experience with that, what treatment would you recommend I do, should even do a treatment?

PS sorry for the bad quality photo, he is really scared of phones for some reason, I had to take these pictures from 6 ft away.

Sharkbait19 · Nov 2, 2022

Looks like a few things are going on, hard to make out in the photos though.
There appears to be a bacterial infection - I’ll let others chime in to say what to treat with.
The description of a fuzzy growth on the tail sounds like lymphocytosis, which comes due to poor diet/water quality. It is rarely a problem and goes away on its own given good care.
The scratching is typically a sign of ich or flukes - something that the usual quarantine treatment plan takes care of.

Current Quarantine Protocol

2023 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed quarantine process can effectively eliminate these parasites before...

www.reef2reef.com

vetteguy53081 · Nov 2, 2022

Kerbash said:
Hey,

I got a really nice deal on a 2 inch convict tang from petco, but he is not in perfect condition, there seems to be 4 separate symptom not sure are they related.

1. Sunken stomach and cheeks, you could see the cheek bones, I think it might have been pitched stomach, but he has gotten a lot better since I left nori on a clip 24 / 7 hes been nipping at it none stop too.

2. White fluff on the tail looks really similar to tail fungus

3. Strange brown / grey patches on the stomach and cheeks (Ill attach some photos)

4. He seems to "scratch" himself? He keeps hovering above rocks and glass then dash forward rubbing himself against the stuff.

Hes in a QT tang by himself at the moment, I really dont want to use copper because I have had really bad experience with that, what treatment would you recommend I do, should even do a treatment?

PS sorry for the bad quality photo, he is really scared of phones for some reason, I had to take these pictures from 6 ft away.

I wish I could give you words of encouragment but there has been an ongoing issue with convicts the last few months in which are are semi-dazed, will peck on glass and rocks But NOT eat and become lethargic getting moved by water flow and then down. I say this as I am a victim of trying 3 different sizes with same results and behaviors and REFUSE to buy any more unless its pre-owned by aquarist and knowingly eating
This fish has a rash or blemish on body which could heal OR become a bacterial issue- One to keep an eye on.
Treatment if needed will be Seachem Kanaplex in quarantine

Please keep us updated regardless of which direction it goes.

Kerbash · Nov 2, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
I wish I could give you words of encouragment but there has been an ongoing issue with convicts the last few months in which are are semi-dazed, will peck on glass and rocks But NOT eat and become lethargic getting moved by water flow and then down. I say this as I am a victim of try 3 different sizes with same results and behaviors and REFUSE to buy any more unless its pre-owned by aquarist and knowingly eating
This fish has a rash or blemish on body which could heal OR become a bacterial issue- One to keep an eye on.
Treatment if needed will be Seachem Kanaplex in quarantine

Please keep us updated regardless of which direction it goes.

Wow really? Dang, can I ask, how long did yours last before they drop? What treatment did you try if any? Mine has been pecking dry rocks and stuff but I’m sure he is eating because he visibly looks fatter.

Here is a better picture of the discoloration.

Kerbash · Nov 2, 2022

Sharkbait19 said:
Looks like a few things are going on, hard to make out in the photos though.
There appears to be a bacterial infection - I’ll let others chime in to say what to treat with.
The description of a fuzzy growth on the tail sounds like lymphocytosis, which comes due to poor diet/water quality. It is rarely a problem and goes away on its own given good care.
The scratching is typically a sign of ich or flukes - something that the usual quarantine treatment plan takes care of.

Current Quarantine Protocol

2023 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed quarantine process can effectively eliminate these parasites before...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks for the link

vetteguy53081 · Nov 2, 2022

Kerbash said:
Wow really? Dang, can I ask, how long did yours last before they drop? What treatment did you try if any? Mine has been pecking dry rocks and stuff but I’m sure he is eating because he visibly looks fatter.

Here is a better picture of the discoloration.

Each one about One week.

Kerbash · Nov 2, 2022

Ok a small update. I just did a freshwater dip on him for 5 minutes a dozen flukes fell off him into the solution. I’m gonna try to use kanamycin and prazirpo when I come home.

Kerbash · Nov 17, 2022

@vetteguy53081
Hey you asked for an update, its been two weeks now, he is still doing fine. I did two FW dip over the past week and a half. The second one didn't show any more flukes though two weird red worm fell out, really try to get a picture but just too small, it might not be a worm actually but an arthropod maybe, looked like it had legs.

Also the pinch stomach is getting worst I think? not much worst but noticeable, anything you recommend? I give him nori 24 /7 he seems to be only interested in the nori. He does not like pellets or mysis though.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 17, 2022

Kerbash said:
@vetteguy53081
Hey you asked for an update, its been two weeks now, he is still doing fine. I did two FW dip over the past week and a half. The second one didn't show any more flukes though two weird red worm fell out, really try to get a picture but just too small, it might not be a worm actually but an arthropod maybe, looked like it had legs.

Also the pinch stomach is getting worst I think? not much worst but noticeable, anything you recommend? I give him nori 24 /7 he seems to be only interested in the nori. He does not like pellets or mysis though.

Not really a pellet fish. LRS herbivore diet, spirulina brine shrimp, formula 2 frozen and matine cuisine. Add selcon vitamins to food occasionally
As I mentioned about the thinning- glad to see its still thriving. You mean amphipods? Odd thats its on a fish - Any pics ?

Kerbash · Nov 17, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Not really a pellet fish. LRS herbivore diet, spirulina brine shrimp, formula 2 frozen and matine cuisine. Add selcon vitamins to food occasionally
As I mentioned about the thinning- glad to see its still thriving. You mean amphipods? Odd thats its on a fish - Any pics ?

These were the best photos I could get. Any idea what they are?

edit: it’s really hard to see from the photos but there were clear segmentation and legs on them. Looked sorta like a maggot.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 17, 2022

Kerbash said:
These were the best photos I could get. Any idea what they are?

edit: it’s really hard to see from the photos but there were clear segmentation and legs on them. Looked sorta like a maggot.

At first I thought perhaps a Piscicolidae Worm but thinking these are dactyl trematodes which are a type of fluke which can be treated with FW dips and Formalin but also Prazi Pro.
Before doing anything, lets verify. . . @Jay Hemdal - what do you think ?

Jeeperz · Nov 18, 2022

Kerbash said:
These were the best photos I could get. Any idea what they are?

edit: it’s really hard to see from the photos but there were clear segmentation and legs on them. Looked sorta like a maggot.

If nothing here, try humblefish on his website. Anything to help

Jay Hemdal · Nov 18, 2022

Kerbash said:
These were the best photos I could get. Any idea what they are?

edit: it’s really hard to see from the photos but there were clear segmentation and legs on them. Looked sorta like a maggot.

The segments means these are not flukes. The "legs" could be setae. In that case, this is a annelid worm. If the legs are truly legs (i.e. the animal uses them to swim through the water) then these are some sort of arthropod parasite, like a copepod.

These larger parasites are difficult to treat because they are very tough compared to other parasites, so any treatment is likely to harm the host fish. Periodic FW dips will control them, and if it is a parasite that has a multi stage life cycle, the FW dips, done every few days, can break that life cycle. Another technique is to dip the fish and then move them into a "clean" tank. Because dips are often not 100% effective, you may need to dip and move more than once.

Jay

Kerbash · Nov 18, 2022

I see, thank you, yeah I did a fresh water dip when i did a full tank clean and water change then 3 days later I did another full tank clean, did the fw dip and didnt see them any more, so hopefully that's that. Im planning to do a full tank clean and another fw dip once more in a day or so too, Ill keep this post up to date.

OrionN · May 4, 2023

So is your Convict tang doing well now? Update please

fodsod · May 4, 2023

Kerbash said:
I see, thank you, yeah I did a fresh water dip when i did a full tank clean and water change then 3 days later I did another full tank clean, did the fw dip and didnt see them any more, so hopefully that's that. Im planning to do a full tank clean and another fw dip once more in a day or so too, Ill keep this post up to date.

Good on you for all the effort to save a very sick fish. Hopefully it recovered fully.